Sweet Auburn history and the history of The Southern School Book Building

Join Gene Kansas, author of Civil Sights, for a conversation and tour exploring the history of Sweet Auburn, including the Southern School Book Building, through the lens of culture, preservation, and design.

Complimentary coffee and pastries from Hell Yeah Gluten Free.

Constructed in 1910, the Southern School Book Building—now home to Constellations—stands as a remarkable example of early 20th-century architecture. Designed by famed Atlanta architect Neel Reid, the building reflects the craftsmanship and character of a transformative era in Atlanta’s history. In 2018, its 7,500-square-foot top floor was thoughtfully renovated, breathing new life into a historic structure while preserving its connection to the past.

Atlanta’s historic Sweet Auburn district has long served as a center of Black life, business, culture, leadership, and entrepreneurship. The neighborhood played a central role in the Civil Rights Movement and remains an important place to understand the people, businesses, and institutions that shaped Atlanta and the broader struggle for civil rights and equality.

Inspired by his culturally rich upbringing in New Orleans, Gene Kansas has dedicated his career to historic preservation, adaptive reuse, community building, and storytelling through the built environment. Through Gene Kansas | Commercial Real Estate, his work is guided by a simple philosophy: building up history, not over it. His projects bring together an appreciation for culture and history with creative, responsible, and meaningful new uses.

Constellations embodies that vision. Founded by Gene Kansas, the culturally based workspace brings people together in Sweet Auburn to collaborate and make a difference. It provides a welcoming environment for thinkers, foundations, nonprofits, and purpose-driven companies.

Gene is also the author of Civil Sights, published by the University of Georgia Press in 2025, exploring the relationship between history, place, and community. His work continues to champion the idea that preservation is not about freezing the past—it is about giving meaningful places a future.

The Southern School Book Building’s preservation has received recognition from the Atlanta Urban Design Commission and Atlanta Regional Commission, and it has been named among the best in Atlanta by Atlanta Magazine.

Come see what’s possible when we conserve, protect, and care for history and culture.

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civilsights.com
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